Tractor shovel



, April 30,1957 R. L. BEYl-:RSTEDT 2,790,256

l TRACTOR sHovEL Filed June 21, 1954 3 She'ets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

April 30, 1957 R. BEYERSTEDT TRACTOR SHOVEL 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June21, 1954 y@ Mggiigzzff GD v April 30, 1957 R. BEYERSTEDT TRACTORlsHovEx.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 21, 1954' IN V EN TOR. PQQUJY Jefa zed @dc)Y F TRACTOR SHVEL Ralph L. VBeyerstedt, Libertyville, Ill., assignorto The FrankG. Hough Co., a corporation of iiiinois Application June 21,1954i, Serial No. 438,016

4 Claims. (Cl. 37117.5)

This invention relates generally to front end loaders,

and *more specifically to an improved loader capable of positive andefficient digging throughout a wide range at, above, and below the levelof the loader, carrying, high and low level dumping, back filling,bulldozing and spreading of any materials commonly worked by a front endloader.

Many loaders are known in the present state of the art which are soarranged as to positively and efficiently perform the functions ofdigging, carrying and dumping. However, as the front end loader hasbecome a more widely used machine, it has become necessary that theloader perform additional functions. Further these additional functionsmust be performed Without affecting the digging, carrying and dumpingqualities of the loader.

Specifically, it is an object of the present invention to provide afront end loader arrangement which will not only positively andefficiently dig, carry, bulldoze and dump, but will also positively andefficiently perform the functions of back filling and spreading. Someloaders in the prior art have been capable of back filling and spreadingin addition to the standard functions. However, this has been done withthe positioning of the cutting edge of the bucket in the dig position.This has resulted in extremely poor back filling and spreading, mainlyfor the reason that the cutting edge of the bucket tends to bitedownward into the material. Thus spreading is either practicallyimpossible or results in a spread of the material having a washboardeffect.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a front endloader which in addition to the enumerated functions, will also permitdigging below the level of the prime mover. v

It is a feature of the present invention that the bucket of the loaderis always under the positive control of the loader operator.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be apparentupon a perusal of the following specification and drawings of which:

Figure l is a top plan view of a loader constructed according to thepresent invention;

Figure 2 is a side plan view of the loader shown in Figure 1 with thebucket in the dig position and showing, in dotted lines, the bucket inone carrying or tippedback position;

Figure 3 is a sideplan view of the invention with the` bucket shown inthe high lift carrying position and with the bucket shown in the digposition below the level of the prime mover or tractor in dotted lines;and

Figure 4 is a side plan view with the bucket shown in the back fillingor spreading position and with the bucket shown in the high lift dumpposition in dotted lines.

The present embodiment is the preferred embodiment but it is to beunderstood that changes can be made in the present embodiment by oneskilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopeof thisinvention.

Generally, the invention comprises a tractor havy ing a bucket 11pivotally mounted on the forward end*k 2,790,256 Patented Apr. 30,

draulic rams 16 and 15 are formed in duplicate and are disposed with oneset on each side of the tractor 1G.

Turning next to a detailed description of the present inventionreference is made to the drawings. The prime mover or tractor 10 may beof any type well known in the art. Y However, in the present embodiment,the tractor 1% is shown as comprising a track laying type having acontinuous track mechanism 17, which is shown diagrammatically. Thetractor is provided with a hydraulic pump unit l which is suitablycontrolled by means (not shown) in the yoperators compartment.` Thehydraulic pump unit 13 may be of any type well known in the art and isinterconnected with the hydraulic rams 1S and 16 by lengths of tubing(not shown).

A supporting frame 19 is mounted on the track frame of the tractor ateach side of the tractor 10, the supporting frame 19 substantiallyextends to the height of the top of the tractor 1t). The boom 12, whichcomprises two identical members disposed on each side of the tractorbetween the track mechanism 17 and the tractor 10 is pivotally mountedto the supporting frame 19 by means of pivotal mounting means 2t?substantially at the forward top edge thereof. The boom 12 is slightlybowed in a downward direction and is provided with an L-shaped mountingbracket 21. The L-shaped mounting bracket 21 is positioned substantiallyat the center of the boom 12 and is rigidly attached thereto. The otheror lower end of the boom 12 is pivotally mounted to the bucket 11. ri`hebucket 11 may be of any type well known in the art and is provided witha flange 22 in two sections on the rear thereof. The two sections of theflange 22 are spaced apart as can easily be seen in Figure l, and thetwo sections are further disposed in a generally vertical direction. Theboom 12 is pivotally mounted to the lowerv edge of the flange 22 bymeans of mounting means 23. It can thus be seen that the bucket 11 ispivotable about the mounting means 23 at the end of the boom 12 to atipped back position for carrying a load of material, to a forwardlytipped position fordumping the bucket 11, and to an intermediateposition for digging material with the bucket 11. The hydraulic ram 1S,which is provided for raising and lowering of the boom 12, is formed induplicate and is pivotally mounted at the rear thereof to the supportingframe 19. The piston of the hydraulic ram 15 is pivotally connected toone end of the L-shaped mounting bracket 21 by means of mountingmeansZ-d. Thus as the ram 15 is extended, the boom 12 is pivotedupwardly about mounting means Zt, and as the hydraulic ram 15 iscontracted, the boom 12 is pivoted downwardly about the mounting means20.

To control the pivoting of the bucket 11 about the end of the boom 12,the link means 13 and 14 and the hydraulic ram 16 are provided. The linkmeans 14 comprises a link arm which is pivotally mounted at one end tothe flange 22 by means of the mounting means 25. The link means 13comprises a lever arm which is pivotally mounted to the upper forwardend of the mounting bracket 21 by means of mounting means 26. The otherend of the lever arm and the other end of the link arm of the link means13 and 14 are pivotallyinterconnected by means of mounting means 27. Thefryv draulic ram 16 is pivotally connecte-d at one end thereof to thesupporting frame 19 substantially Aat the top thereof by means ofmounting means 2,8 as can easily be seen in the drawings. The mountingmeans 20 `for the boom 3,- 12and the mountingmeans 28 forY theraml.arehori zontally and vertically displaced from each other, thehorizontal displacement being substantially larger than thevertical'displacement, and With-the mounting means-l 23being disposedfrearwardlyand upwardly of the mounting means 20. The piston of the hydraulic ram16 is pivotally connected to the'lver arm of the link means 13intermediate the ends thereof bymeans of mounting means 29. The L-shapedmounting bracket 21 is formed'to have a slot therethrough along thewidth of the boom 12. This slot is of a width sufficient to permit theprojection of the piston of the hydraulic ram 16 therethrough. Thus itmay be seen that as the hydraulic ram 16 is extended, the lever arm ofthe link means 13 is pivoted in a counterclockwise direction as viewedin Figure 2 about the mounting means 26. The lower end of this lever armwill then move link means 14 to cause a pivoting of the bucket 11 aboutthe mounting means 23 in a clockwise direction as viewedlin Figure 2. Acontraction of the hydraulic ram 16 will cause an opposite movement ofthese elements, in other words, the link means 13 will be pivoted in aclockwise direction, and the bucket 11 will be pivoted in acounterclockwise direction, as' viewed in Figure 2.

The relative displacements of the various elements and the relativelengths of these elements may best be shownV by a detailed descriptionof the operation of the present invention. For this reason reference isagain made to the drawings and iirstly to Figure 2. Figure 2 shows theloader in the digging position at ground level and in dotted lines, onecarrying position. In the digging position at ground level it may benoted that the cutting edge of the bucket 11 is disposed in asubstantially horizontal plane at ground level. The hydraulic ram 15 issubstantially contracted, as is the hydraulic ram 16. The boom 1-2 isthen-disposed at some point short of its lowermost position. The linkmeans 13 is disposed at a small angle to the L-shaped bracket 21. Theoperator may, in this position, make upward and downward adjustments ofthe cutting edge of the bucket 11 by extending or contracting the ram16. The bucket 11 may be tipped back from this digging position throughan angle of approximately 40 by a substantially coniplete contraction ofthe hydraulic ram 16. When this is done, the bucket 11 .and the linkmeans 13 and 14 will assume the position shown in the dotted lines inFigure 2. This tip back of 40 is entirely sultcient for purposes ofcarrying a full load in the bucket 11.

If it is necessaryV to dig with the bucket 11 below ground level, thehydraulic ram 15 is caused to substantially completely contract as shownin the dotted lines in Figure 3. This will result in a slight tip backof the bucket 11 which is compensated for by a slight extension of thehydraulic ram 16. The bucket 11 may also be tipped back to a carryingposition from this position. However, since the angle between the lowerportion of the boom 12 and the ilange 22 is less when the bucket 11 isbelow ground level, the maximum tilt back from this position isapproximately 35.

When the bucket 11 is in the tipped back or carrying position as shownin the dotted lines in Figure 2, or from the tipped back position fromthe digging position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3, the bucket maybe raised through a relatively large arc to a high lift carryingposition such as shownrin Figure 3. This is accomplished bysubstantially completely extending the hydraulic ram 15, while thehydraulic ram 16 remains substantially completely contracte-d. Due tothe horizontal component of displacement between the mounting means 28and 29, there is a further tip back of the bucket 11 as the bucket 11is' raised from ground level to a position just below thel eye level ofthe loader operator.

As'the bucket 11` i'sfurther raised beyond the eye level'` of the loaderoperator there' is a slight :automatic piv- 4 otingof. the. bucketY 11Atoward. the dumppositon. This is advantageous in that therloader may bemoved with the bucket 11 in the carrying position below the eye level ofthe loader operator without any spillage of the material over theforward cutting edge of the bucket 11, 'and further, as the boom 12 israised to the high lift t position no material will spill over the rearportion of the bucket 11 onto the4 tractor.

To dump the bucket 11 when the boom 12 is inthe high lift position asshown in Figure 3, it is merely necessary to extend the' hydraulic ram16. Now this will cause` a counterclockwise pivoting, as viewed inFigure 3, of the link means 13 about the mounting means 26, with aconsequent movementv of the link means 14 to in turn cause the bucket 11to be pivoted in a clock- Wise direction as viewed in Figure 3 .aboutmounting means 23' to the dump position as shown'in Figure 4. From thehigh lift dump position, the bucket 11 may be easily returnedI to theVdig position by a contraction of.

the'hydraulic' rams 15 and 16.

After the bucket; 1.1 has been dumped, for instance preparatory tospreading theA material, the loader may be placed in the spreadingposition by a contraction of the hydraulic ram 15 with the hydraulic ram16 substanl tially expanded. The invention will then assume the positionshown in Figure 4. With the bucket 11 positioned `as shown in Figure 4,in other words, with the cutting edge disposed downward and toward therear of the tractor, spreading of the material may be easilyaccomplished. The bucket 11 may then be returned to. the `diggingposition by a contraction of a hydraulic ram 16.

Thus it can be seen from the described mode of operation of the present.invention, that the enumerated functions may be easily accomplished,with the shovel 11 of the loader under the positive control of theloader operator'at all times.

Having described the invention what is considered new and desired to beprotected by Letters Patent is:

l. In a loader, a boom pivotally mounted at the rear thereof on saidloader, a bucket comprising a cutting edge and a vertically disposedange mounted on the rear thereof, mounting means pivotally mounting theforward end of said. boom to the lower end of said ange on said bucket,a mounting bracket xedly mounted on said boom intermediatev the endsthereof, a hydraulic ram pivotally connected to said mounting bracketand' saidy loader for raising and lowering said boom, a lever pivotallyconnected to said mounting bracket to depend below the intermediateportion of said boom, a link pivotally connecting said lever with theupper end of said iange on the rear of said bucket at a point rearwardlyof the means pivotally mounting said boom to said flange when saidcutting edge is horizontally disposed at ground level, and a secondhydraulic ram pivotally mounted between said lever and said loader forvarying the degree of tiltot' said bucket relative to said boom', thepivotal mounting of said second hydraulic rarn to said. loaderbeingpositioned rearwardly and above the pivotal connection of said boom tosaid` loader, said second hydraulic ram, said lever and said link beingformed relative to the pivot yaxes of said boom, said second hydraulicram, said lever and said link so that said cutting edge is tiltedrearwardly when said boom is initially raised, tilted forwardly whensaid boom is raised above theV eye level ofthe operator, and tilted.downwardly and rearwardly of a vertical plane through the pivot axis ofsaid boom to said ange when said second hydraulic ram is extended and`said cutting edge is at ground level;

2. In a loader, a boom pivotally mounted at the rear thereof on saidloader, a bucket comprising a cutting edge, mounting means pivotallylmounting the forward end of said; boom to the lower rear portion of saidbucket, a mounting bracket1 iixedly mounted on said boom intermediatethe ends thereof, a hydraulic ram pivotally connected to said mountingbracket land said loader for raising and lowering said boom, a leverpivotally connected to said mounting bracket to depend below theintermediate portion of said boom, a link pivotally connecting saidlever with the upper rear portion of said bucket at a point rearwardlyof the means pivotally mounting said boom to said bucket, and a secondhydraulic ram pivotal-V ly mounted between said lever and said loaderfor varying the degree of tilt of said bucket relative to said boom, thepivotal mounting of said second hydraulic ram to said loader beingpositioned rearwardly and above the pivotal connection of said boom tosaid loader, said second-hydraulic ram, said lever and said link beingformed relative to the pivot axes of said boom, said second hydraulicram, said lever and said link so that said cutting edge is tiltedrearwardly when said boom is initially raised, tilted forwardly whensaid boom is raised above the eye level of the operator, and tilteddownwardly and rearwardly of a vertical plane through the pivot axis ofsaid boom to said bucket when said second hydraulic ram is extended andsaid cutting edge is at ground level.

3. In a loader, a boom pivotally mounted at the rear thereof on saidloader, `a bucket comprising a cutting edge and having a verticallydisposed tlange mounted on the rear thereof, mounting means pivotallymounting the forward end of said boom to the lower end of said ange onsaid bucket, an L-shaped mounting bracket xedly mounted on said boomintermediate the ends thereof, said L-shaped mounting bracket positionedso that one leg thereof lies transversely of the length of said boom andthe other leg thereof lies substantially parallel to the length of saidboom above said boom, a hydraulic ram pivotally connected tothe lowerend of said transverse leg of said L-shaped mounting bracket and saidloader for raising and lowering said boom, a lever, one end of saidlever pivotally mounted to the end of said parallel leg of said bracketwith the other end of said lever depending below the intermediateportion of said boom, a link, said link pivotally mounted between theother end of said lever and the upper end of said ange on the rear ofsaid bucket ata point rearwardly of the means pivotally mounting saidboom to said ange when said cutting edge is horizontally disposed atground level, and a second hydraulic ram pivotally mounted between saidloader and said Vlever intermediate the ends thereof for varying thedegree of tilt of said bucket relative to said boom, the pivotalmounting of said second hydraulic ram to said loader being positionedrearwardly and above the pivotal connection of said boom to said loader,said second hydraulic ram, said lever and said link being formedrelative to the pivot axes of said boom, said second hydraulic ram, saidlever and said link so that said cutting edge is tilted rearwardly whensaid boom is initially raised, tiled forwardly when said boom is raisedabove the eye level of the operator, and tilted downwardly andrearwardly of a vertical plane through the pivot axis of said boom tosaid ange when said second hydraulic ram is extended and said cuttingedge is at ground level.

4. In a loader, a boom pivotally mounted at the rear thereof on saidloader substantially at the top of said loader, a bucket comprising acutting edge and having a vertically disposed flange mounted on the rearthereof, mounting means pivotally mounting the forward end of said boomto the lower end of said ange on said bucket, an L-shaped mountingbracket lixedly mounted on said boom intermediate the ends thereof, saidL-shaped mounting bracket positioned so that one leg thereof liestransversely of the length of said boom and the other leg thereof liessubstantially parallel to the length of said boom above said boom, yahydraulic ram pivotally connected to the lower end of said transverseleg of said L-shaped mounting bracket and said loader for raising andlowering said boom, a lever, one end of said Ilever pivotally mounted tothe end of said parallel leg of said bracket with the other end of saidlever depending below the intermediate portion of said boom, a. link,said link pivotally mounted between the other end of said lever and theupper end of said flange on the rear of said bucket at a pointrearwardly of the means pivotally mounting Y said boom to said ange whensaid cutting edge is horizontally disposed at ground level, a secondhydraulic ram pivotally mounted between said loader and said leverintermediate the ends thereof for varying the degree of tilt of saidbucket relative to said boom, the pivotal mounting of said secondhydraulic ram to said loader being positioned rearwardly and above thepivotal connection of said boom to said loader, said second hydraulicram, said lever and said link being formed relative to the pivot axes ofsaid boom, said second hydraulicV ram, said lever v and said link sothat said cutting edge is tilted rearwardly when said boom -is raisedabove the eye level of the operator, and tilted downwardly andrearwardly of a vertical plane through the pivot axis of said boom tosaid llange when said second hydraulic ram is extended and said cuttingedge is at ground level.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,418,251 Drott Apr. 1, 14947 2,668,631 Reese Feb. 9, 1954 2,685,973Dobeus Aug. 10, 1954

